Endless detention…

Oct. 24, 2013

 Toronto Star – Nicholas Keung
Canada urged to release migrants in endless detention 

 There are a variety of reasons why immigrants can not be returned to the country of origin and therefore can not be deported.  For example, the country of origin may deny travel papers, or the Canadian immigration people think there is real risk to the person’s life in the country of origin.  So, they are often held indefinitely in immigration detention.  The catch-22 seems to jump off the page!  Lawyer MacDonald Scott says there are hundreds!    http://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2013/10/23/canada_urged_to_release_migrants_in_endless_detention.html   Related article: Rabble.ca   Scott Neigh   End immigration detention: Supporting unjustly detained migrants     http://rabble.ca/podcasts/shows/talking-radical-radio/2013/10/end-immigration-detention-supporting-unjustly-detained-   Related article:  CBC  News  UN urged to aid man ‘in limbo’ in Ontario immigration jail     http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/un-urged-to-aid-man-in-limbo-in-ontario-immigration-jail-1.2200396    

 University of Vermont – Jon Reidel
Restorative Justice from New Zealand to Vermont 

 Fulbright scholar Kathy Fox wanted to know how the principles of RJ applied to the re-integration process and the reduction of recidivism.  It seems that restorative justice around youth is often in a context of child welfare and social services.  The youth practices are often difficult to introduce to the adult criminal population.  http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmpr/?Page=news&storyID=17056&category=ucommfeaturea   (Research paper soon to be publish by the International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminologyhttp://ijo.sagepub.com/content/by/year 

 Social Justice Solutions (US)
Reduce ACEs by dismantling the “prison industrial complex”

 ACE’s are Adverse Childhood Experiences.  The Pew Charitable Foundation now reports that one in every 28 children has a parent incarcerated.  ACE is rated and scored by the circumstances such as mental health or addiction.  The incarcerated lose their economic future and the children tend to lose their education, social and economic mobility as well.     http://www.socialjusticesolutions.org/2013/10/24/reduce-aces-by-dismantling-the-prison-industrial-complex/  Related link:  ACES Connected   http://acesconnection.com/   Pew Charitable Foundation Report:   Collateral Costs:  Incarceration’s Effect on Economic Mobility  (A 44 page downloadable pdf)   http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/Economic_Mobility/Collateral%20Costs%20FINAL.pdf?n=5996 

 Digital Journal.com
Inspiring Cyberbullying Documentary Released Online 

 Called “Submit the Documentary” this 56 minute video explores the context and the real life consequences for three families who encountered different types of cyberbullying.  http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1543950    Video link:  http://vimeo.com/channels/submitthedoc 

Mail-on-line (UK report on US News) – Associated Press
The skyrocketing costs of aging prison inmate population

 Focused on the Nevada prison system, the article explores the problems and costs associated with an aging prison population.  Longer sentences and less parole means inmates will continue to age, a problem not anticipated for most of the tough-on-crime legislation in the US or in Canada.  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2467911/The-skyrocketing-costs-aging-prison-inmate-population.html#ixzz2ieucWUiA 

Colorado Independent (US) – Susan Greene
Lawmaker will seek to abolish solitary confinement for mentally ill prisoners 

 Solitary confinement is a default for mentally ill inmates and played a role in the murder of Colorado State Corrections Tom Clements when an inmate – Evan Ebel – was released from long time solitary and prison without any re-integration services.   Said Senator Jessie Ulibarri who is sponsoring the reform:  “By using solitary confinement as the default for mentally ill prisoners, we’re doing the least safe thing for the most amount of money.”   http://www.coloradoindependent.com/144572/lawmaker-will-seek-to-abolish-solitary-confinement-for-mentally-ill-prisoners 

 News.au.com 
Strip searches appropriate, public holiday necessary finds committee into state G20 legislation 

 Brisbane, Australia, is about to host the G-20.  Lots of the preparations have a déjà vu feel to them, especially when it comes to extraordinary police powers.   The casual and almost surreal “business and promotional rationales” are a little chilling perhaps for Toronto.   http://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/strip-searches-appropriate-public-holiday-necessary-finds-committee-into-state-g20-legislation/story-fnii5v6w-1226745163560  

 Department of Justice 
Youth Justice Fund 

 The federal government has a Youth Justice Fund that looks to projects under one of three components: the Main Fund, Drug Treatment, and Guns, Gangs and Drugs.  There is a broad list of those who are eligible for the funding on the link but no apparent deadline for submissions.   http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/cj-jp/yj-jj/index.html